Automatic reclosing circuit breaker system



T. T E L L E V. E.

AUTOMATIC RECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER lSYSTEM Filed March 1l, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l AUTOMATIC RECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER SYSTEM Filed March l1, 1953 2 Slxeets-Sheekl 2 f/ Q /Z Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC BECLOSING CIRCUIT BBEAKEB SYSTEM E. Vernon Ellett, Pocahontas.' Vl., signor to Westinghouse Electric Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa.,V a

Pennsylvania corporation o! Application March 11, 193s, sei-m No. 660,311

17 Clalml.

s effect automatic reclosing operations of a circuit breaker by means of a device or systems `which provided only for a. predetermined number of timed reclosures. I have discovered that in many instances operating conditions are such that timed reclosures are not always desirable and especially is this true as regards the first reclosure. In an ever increasing number of applications of automatic reclosing equipment the need for a substantially instantaneous first reclosure is appearing. The meaning of a substantially instantaneous reclosure as referred to herein, is

- that the reclosureis effected without imposing a time delay other than the' necessary short time required for the relays and circuit breaker mechanism to function.

The periodic reclosing systems of the prior art are not adapted for service of this kind since theyare so designed as to impose a time delay on the flrst as well as the other reclosures and are entirely inadequate to fulfill the present day needs.

The object of my invention, generally stated, is to provide an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system which shall be simple and effective in operation and which may be economically manufactured and installed.

A more speciiic object of my invention is to provide for automatically effecting a plurality of reclosing operations of a circuit breaker in a predetermined manner and sequence.

A further object of my invention is to provide for automatically reclosing a circuit breaker in such manner that the rst reclosure is effected substantially instantaneously followed by a plurality of timed reclosures.

Another object of my invention is to provide for automatically reclosing a circuit breaker, a predetermined number of times, the rst reclosure being eected immediately upon the opening of the breaker, the remaining reclosures being effected at predetermined timed intervals and the reclosing system rendered ineffective in the event that the breaker reopens following the last reclosure.

These and other objects of my invention will become evident from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system embodying the principal features of the invention wherein alternating current is used for control purposes, and:

-Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a similar system adapted for direct current control.

In practising my invention in both instances the ilrst reclosure is eiIected substantially instantaneously in response to the automatic opening operation of the breaker.

A predetermined number of subsequent reclosures are eilected by means of a timing relay in lo the event that the breaker continues to be automatically tripped following the rst reclosure. The operation of the timing relay is initiated upon the first automatic opening of the breaker. 15

The systems are so arranged that in the event the breaker remains closed after any reclosure except the last one the timing relay is imtornati cally returned to its original or normal position. In the event that the breaker fails to remain closed on the last reclosure, such as would be the case if a fault condition still existed in the circuit controlled by the breaker, provision is made for rendering the reclosing system inoperative to prevent further reclosures.

Referring now to the drawings and to Fig. 1 in particular, the reference character ill designates generally, a circuit breaker which may be connected, in a well known manner, between a power supply circuit Il and a load circuit l2. 30

The circuit breaker l0 is provided with a closing device in the form of a solenoid I3 and a tripping device it. The tripping device I4 has been shown as a simple, spring-biased latching device which functions to hold the breaker in the 35 closed position and which may be operated to automatically trip the breaker in response to an overload on the load circuit by means of the current transformer 9, as shown, or in accordance with any other desired abnormal condition of o the circuit.

Any other well known type of closing device may be used as the reclosing system herein described is suitable for application to all forms of circuit breakers. 5

In this embodiment of the invention the control current for the various devices may be obtained from a suitable transformer 8 connected t0 the supply circuit Il, as shown.

The energlzation of the closing solenoid I3 may be controlled by a control relay i5. This relay may be operated by means of a push-button switch I6 when manual control of the breaker is desired such as to initially close the breaker.

In addition to the control relay I5. there is provided a cut-of! relay I1 which functions to release the control relay and thereby deenergize the closing solenoid I3 following each reclosure of the breaker.

In order to eil'ect a substantially instantaneous reclosure ot the breaker following the initial automatic opening thereof, a set-up relay I8 is utilized, which, in this instance, is controlled by means o1' a suitable back contact or limit switch I9 on the breaker.

In order to provide for automatically eiect-4 ing a timed reclosure or a plurality ot timed re- 4closures following the instantaneous reclosure of the breaker in the event that it reopens, a timing relay 2| is utilized. For convenience the timing relay is illustrated as a motor-operated drum device, although it is to be understood that any other suitable timing device may be used instead.

As shown, the timing relay 2| comprises a drum element disposed to be driven by means of a suitable alternating current motor 22 and provided with a plurality oi. stationary contact fingers 23 to 28, inclusive, a continuous ring segment 29 n the contact members 43 of lockout relay 34 are and a plurality of separate segments 30 to 33, inclusive and 40. The ring segment 29 functions in connection with fingers 23, 24 and 25 to control the operation of the relay motor 22, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

In order to render certain elements of the reclosing systems ineffective after each reclosure whereby any further attempt to reclose will be precluded in the event that the control voltage should collapse when the breaker is closed, there is provided a lock-out device 34 in the form of a toggle relay, which cooperates with and is controlled by relay I8 in controlling the operation of the control relay I5 and is further controlled by the timing relay 2| to reset the system for operation after each lockout in a manner which will be more clearly described hereinafter.

In order that a more comprehensive understanding of the nature and objects of my invention may be obtained, a detailed description oi.' the operation will now be given.

Assuming that the switch 35 .Is closed, thereby energizing the control conductors X and Y, the circuit breaker I0 may be initially operated to its closed position by closing the push-button switch I6 which establishes an energizing circuit for the control relay I5 which extends from conductor Y through the switch I6, Winding of relay I5, contact members 3E oi the cut-off relay I1 and conductor 31 to conductor X. In response to the operation of the control relay I5 the closing solenoid I3 is energized to effect the closing of the breaker over a circuit which extends from conductor Y through contact members 38 of relay I5, conductor 39 and coil of solenoid I3, to control conductor X.

In order to provide for effecting a substantially instantaneous first reclosure of the breaker, the set up relay |8 is rendered initially responsive to the closure of a limit switch or back contact member I9 on the breaker. The closure of this linut switch I9 establishes an energizing circuit for the set-up relay I8 which extends from conductor Y through conductor 4I, contact members 26 and 21 bridged by the segment 30 on the timing relay 2|, conductor 42, contact members 43 ol.' the lockout relay 34, conductors 44 and 53, winding of relay I8, limit switch I9 and conductor 45 to control conductor X. As will be observed the energization and operation of the set-up relay I8 at this time depends upon the lockout relay 34 and the timing relay 2| being in their normal or non-operating positions.

In response to the operation of the set-up relay I8, the lockout relay 34 is operated over a circuit which extends from control conductor X 5 through contact members 46 oi the set up relay I8, conductor 41 and winding 48 oi the lockout relay to the control conductor Y. This operates the lockout relay 34 to the lockout position thereby closing its contact members 49 which estab- 10 lishes an energizing circuit for the control relay I5. This circuit extends from the energized conductor 42 through conductor 5I, contact members 52 of the set-up relay I8, conductor 53, Contact members 49, conductor 54, winding of relay I5, 15 contact members 36 of the cut-off relay I 1 and conductor 31 to the control conductor X. The control relay I5 is thereupon operated to energize the closing solenoid I3 as described hereinbefore, to eiect a substantially instantaneous first rego closure of the breaker.

The set-up relay I8 is maintained in its closed position until the breaker is closed, even though opened to interrupt its original energizing cirz5 cuit by means of contact members 52 which are connected in shunt relation to contact members 43. Upon the closure oi' the breaker, the limit switch I9 is opened and the set-up relay I8 is deenergized.

In order to provide for reclosing the breaker, a predetermined number of times at predetermined time intervals following the first reclosure in the event that the breaker continues to reopen, provision is made for initiating the operation of the 35 timing relay 2| in response to the initial automatic opening of the breaker.

In this instance the energizing circuit for operating the relay motor 22 is completed by means oi a second limit switch 55 on the breaker. This 40 circuit extends from conductor Y through conductor 4I, contact members 23 and 24 bridged by the continuous segment 29, conductor 56, limit switch 55, conductor 51, and the armature of the motor 22 to conductor X. 45

The time delay relay 2| is continued in operation, regardless of the fact that `the limit switch 55 is opened as soon as the breaker is reclosed, by means of contact members 58 on the lockout relay 34 which are closed to short circuit the limit 50 switch 55 before the breaker is reclosed.

In order to provide for deenergizingthe control relay I5 and consequently the solenoid I3 after the breaker has been closed, the cut-off relay I1 is energized upon the closure ci. the breaker by 55 means of a third limit switch 6I which establishes an energizing circuit from conductor X through conductor 45, limit switch 6 I, conductor 62, winding of relay I1, conductor E3 and Contact members 64 of the control relay I5 to conductor Y. The 6o operation of relay I1 opens its contact members 36 to deenergize the control relay I5 which opens its contact members 64 to deenergize relay I 1.

In the event that the breaker reopens following the first reclosure, it is prevented from reclosing G5 immediately since the set-up relay I8 is no longer responsive to the opening operation of the breaker as its energizing circuit is now interrupted at contact members 43 of the lockout relay 34, thereby requiring that the lockout relay 34 be reset or 70 returned to its initial position. In this instance the resetting of the relay 34 is controlled following each opening of the breaker by means of the contact segments 3| and 33 on the timing relay 2 I.

As will be observed, when the drum of the tim- 75 ing relay 2| is actuated such that contact fingers 21 and 28 are bridged by the segment 3| a circuit is established from conductor Y through conductor 4I, contact nngers 21 and 28, bridged by segment 3|, conductor 66 and the reset coil 81 of lockout relay 34 to conductor 31. The lockout relay is thereupon actuated to its normal or initial position where its contactI members 83 are again closed.

It will be observed, however, that the energizing circuit for the set-up relay I8 is still incomplete since the contact fingers 28 and 21 of the timing relay 2I are now disengaged from the segment 30. After the expiration of a predetermined time interval as determined by the speed of the timing relay or spacing of contact segments 30 and 3| on the drum, contact segment 32 which corresponds to contact segment 38 is actuated into engagement with contact fingers 28 and 21 which completes the energizing circuit for the set-up relay I8 which, in turn, operates the lockout relay 38 to eifect the operation oi the control relay I8, as described hereinbefore, to reclose the breaker a second time. f

In the event that the circuit breaker opens a third time, the timing relay 2| continues to function and bridges contact ngers 21 and 28 by means of the segment 33 to reset the lockout relay 34 and then bridges contact members 26 and 21 by means of segment 88 to effect a reclosure of the breaker as described hereinbefore.

As illustrated, the timing relay 2| is provided with only two reset segments 3| and 33, and, therefore', should the breaker open a fourth' time, the absence ol any additional re-set segments will prevent the lockout relay 38 from being operated to its reset position, which eilects a denite lockout of the system. The energizing circuit for the relay motor 22 of the timing relay is maintained through contact members 58 of the lockout relay and it continues to operate until the contact ringer -23 is disengaged from the segment 28, which interrupts the motor energizing circuit and stops the timing relay in such position that its contact fingers 28 and 21 are not bridged by the contact segment 38 thereby making it impossible for the set-up relay I8 to operate in response to the opening of the breaker even though the lockout relay 38 should in some manner be returned to its reset position. i

The complete reclosing system is rendered temporarily inoperative and cannot again function automatically until the breaker is closed manually by means of the push-button switch I8 as described hereinbefore.

In order to reset the timing relay 2| and thereby render the reclosing system effective for further automatic operation, the timing relay 2| is provided with a contact finger 28 which is so disposed as to be engaged by the segment 28 when the drum is stopped in the lockout position. When the breaker is closed manually a fourth limit switch 88 is closed which establishes a circuit from 'conductor Y through conductor 4 I, contact fingers=24 and 25 bridged by the segment 29, conductor 89, limit switch 88, conductor 51 and armature of the motor 22 to conductor X. The, completion of this circuit starts the timing relay 2| and the drum is actuated until the contact finger 25 is disengaged from the segment 29 which interrupts the previously traced energizing circuit for the motor 22. The timing relay is now in its normal non-operating position as shown.

In the event that the circuit breaker remains closed in response to any reclosure, the timing relay 2| is automatically returned to its normal non-operating position by means of the energizing circuit described in the preceding paragraph.

It will be apparent that any number of reclosing operations at any desired time intervals may 5 be obtained by providing the required number of segments on the drum of the timing relay. These segmentsmay be placed at regular intervals as shown in' order to obtain an equal time element between each reclosure or may be so spaced as to obtain reclosures at different time intervals.

It is to be understood that even though the system of Fig. 1 is particularly adapted for use where alternating current control is desired or necessary, it may be used to equal advantage for l5 direct current control.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is illustrated a reclosing system having the same general characteristics as the system of Fig. 1 but being adapted for use in connection with direct current control. 20 although this system may also be used for alternating current control when desired.

In this instance the timing relay 1I is generally similar to that shown in Fig. l with the exception that there is a different arrangement of contact 25 fingers and segments. In this instance the relay is provided with stationary contact iingers 12 to 18, inclusive. 'I'he fingers 12, 13 and 14 are disposed'to cooperate with a continuous ring segment 19 to control theoperation of the motor 8| 30 which drives the drum, contact 'fingers 15 and 16 are disposed to cooperate .with the segments 82, 83 and 84 to control the operation of the set up relay I8 after the first reclosure, and contact fingers 11 and 18 are disposed to cooperate with 35 segments 85, 88 and 81 to control the operation of the control relay B8.

In this embodiment of the invention, the control relay 88 is provided with a latching device 88 adapted, when energized, to disconnect the armature 9| from the contact members 82 for a purpose which will be described hereinafter.

In this instance the control relay 88 may be operated to initially close the breaker by means of a push-button switch 83 which operates the coni5 trol relay 88 to establish an obvious energizing circuit for the solenoid I8.

In response to the iirst'openingof the breaker the limit switch I8 is closed to establish an obvious energizing circuit for the set up relay I8. In response to the operation of relay i8, its contact members lit are closed to complete an energizing circuit for the control relay 88 which extends from positive battery through contact members 84, conductor 85, Contact fingers 11 and 718 of the timing relay which are bridged by the segment 85, conductor 96 and winding oi' relay 88 to negative battery. This eects the operation of the control relay 88 to again energize the closing solenoid I8 to effect a. substantially instantaneous reclosure oi 6@ the breaker.

In response to the operation or the set-up relay I8, its contact members 81 are closed to complete an energizing circuit i'or the relay motor 8| which extends from positive battery through contact. fingers 12 and 13 bridged by the segment 19, conductor 88, contact members 91 and the armature and field winding of motor 8| to the negative battery.

In order to render the set-up relay I8 ineffective 70 to prevent a second reclosure of the breaker the releasing mechanism 88 of the control relay 88 is rendered responsive to the closure of the breaker by means of limit switch 55 which closes in response to the breaker being operated to its fully 15 closed position to eilect the energization of the releasing device. This permits the contact members 92 or the control relay to drop thereupon deenergizing the closing solenoid I3, and. at the same time, the armature 9| is disconnected from these contact members, thereby making it impossible for the set up relay I8 to reclose the breaker before contact fingers `I`I and 'I8 have been disengaged by the contact segment 85.

In the event that the breaker has reopened immediately the set up relay I8 is operated as before. It is apparent, however, that the armature SI of the control relay 88 is not released until the contact segment 85 disengages the contact fingers I'I and 18. When this occurs the armature 9i drops and is engaged by the latch 89 thereby rendering it in condition for a second operation.

When the set up relay IB was closed, it was maintained in the closed position by means of a holding circuit which extends from positive battery through its contact members 99, conductor IUI, contact lingers and 'I6 bridged by the segment 82, conductor 102 and through the coil of relay I8 to negative battery. As will be readily understood, this circuit maintains the set up relay in its closed position until the segment 82 has disengaged from contact lingers I5 and 'I6 which provides suiiicient time to close the circuit breaker.

The timing relay 1I continues to operate until at the expiration of a predetermined time interval contact lingers Il and 18 are bridged by the segment B6 which, if the breaker has reopened to operate the set up relay IB, completes the previously described energizing circuit for the control relay 88. In this instance the holding circuit for the set up relay I8 is established by the contact segment 83 on the drum element.

In the event that the breaker opens a third time, it is again reclosed when the contact segment Bl engages the conta-ct fingers l1 and i8 in the same manner as described hereinbefore.

In the event that the breaker should open a fourth time, it is prevented from being reclosed since the contact iinger' 11 now becomes disengaged from a continuous segment 'i9 and the timing relay 1 I stopped in its lockout position.

As described in connection with Fig. l, the reclosing system may be again rendered operative by manually closing the breaker by operating the push-button switch 93 which, in this instance, effects the closure of limit switch 58 to complete an energizing circuit lior the relay motor BI which extends from positive battery through contact fingers I3 and Il bridged by the continuous segment 19, conductor |04, limit switch BB, conductor I 03 and the armature of motor 8i to negative battery. As soon, however, as contact finger i4 disengages segment 'I9 the motor 8| will be deenergized to stop the timing relay in its initial or normal non-operating position.

In the event that the breaker remains closed at any time prior to the lockout position oi the timing relay, this relay Will be returned to its normal position through the functioning of the circuit described in the preceding paragraph.

It may be stated in conclusion that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention, I do not Wish to limit myself strictly to the exact details herein illustrated, since modifications of the same may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system, in combination, a circuit breaker, means for opening the circuit breaker, and means including a set-up relay, a timing relay and a lockout relay alternately responsive to said relays responsive to the opening operation of the breaker for effecting a. substantially instantaneous reclosure 5 thereof, said means being disposed to eilect a predetermined number of additional reclosures of the breaker in the event that it continues to reopen following the iirst reclosure.

2. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker i0 system, in combination, a circuit breaker, means for opening the circuit breaker, means including a lockout relay and a control relay responsive thereto responsive to the opening of the circuit breaker i'or effecting a substantially instantaneous first reclosureI thereof, and means including said means operable to effect a predetermined number of additional timed reclosures in the event that the circuit breaker reopens subsequent to the iirst reclosure thereof. 20

3. In combination a power supply circuit and a load circuit, a circuit interrupter for controlling the flow ot current between said circuits, means for automatically opening the interrupter in response to predetermined circuit conditions, means for closing the interrupter, control means responsive to the opening operation of the interrupter for effecting a. substantially instantaneous operation of the closing means, said control means including lockout means having normal and lockout positions operable to the lockout position to render the control means ineiiective in the event that the breaker reopens immediately, and means also responsive to the opening of the interrupter for operating the lockout means to the normal position whereby the control means is again rendered eiiective to close the interrupter at the expiration of a predetermined time interval.

4. In combination a power supply circuit and 4U a load circuit, a circuit interrupter for controiling the ioW of current between said circuits, means for automatically opening the interrupter in response to predetermined circuit conditions, means for closing the interrupter, control means responsive to the opening operation of the inter rupter for edecting a substantially instantaneous operation oi the closing means, said control means including lockout means operable to render the control means ineffective, and a timing 5G device initiated into operation in response to the opening o! the breaker lor operating the lockout means to a diilerent position and cooperating therewith to operate the control means to reclose the interrupter after a predetermined interval of time.

5. In an automatic recloslng circuit interrupter system, in combination, a circuit breaker provided With closing means and automatic tripping means, a control relay for controlling the ener 50 gization o! the closing means, a set-up relay operable in response to an opening operation of the interrupter, lockout means controlled by the set-up relay for effecting the operation of the control relay whereby the interrupter is reclosed substantially instantaneously, said lockout means being disposed to render the set-up relay unresponsive to a subsequent opening of the interruptcr, and a timing relay responsive 'to the 70 initial opening operation of the interrupter for again operating the lockout means to render the set-up relay responsive to the opening of the interrupter after a predetermined time interval following the nrst reclosure and for again renintervals.

6. In combination, a circuit interrupter, means for automatically opening the interrupter under predetermined conditions, and means comprising a set-up relay and a lockout relay for automatically reclosing the interrupter substantially instantaneously on the ilrst reclosure. and thereafter at predetermined time intervals, said means also including timing means set into operation in response to the initial opening of the interrupter and effective to operate the lockout and vset-up relays in atimed sequence following each reclonumber of reclosures o! the interrupter, said means vbeing adapted to eiIect a substantially instantaneous first reclosure of the interrupter followed by al predetermined number of timed reclosures and to become inoperative in the event that the interrupter opens on the last reclosure.

8. In combination with a power supply circuit, a load circuit and a circuit interrupter therebetween, of means for automatically opening the interrupter in response to predetermined abnormal conditions of the load circuit, means set into operation in response to the opening oi the interrupter for thereafter controlling the" reclos- 1 ing thereof, said means including a control relay and4 switch means responsive to the opening of the breaker disposed to effect a substantially instantaneous ilrst reclosuren and timing means disposed to co-operate with said switch means to operate the control relay at predetermined intervals to eilect a predetermined number of timedreclosures in the event that the abnormal conditions persist, said timing-means being automatically operable to reset to an initial position in the event that the interrupter remains closed upon any reclosure thereof.

9. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system, in combination, a circuit breaker provided with means for tripping the breaker in response to predetermined circuit conditions, means for closing the breaker, a timing relay, a lock-out relay, and a set-up relay, said set-up relay being responsive to the opening of the.

breaker for operating the lock-out relay to a predetermined position to eifect the energization of the breaker closing means, and to render the setup relay unresponsive to a reopening of the breaker, said timing relay being responsive to the initial opening of the breaker and operable through a sequence whereby the lock-out relay is operated to a different predetermined position at the expiration of a predetermined time interval and the set-up relay operated at the expiration of a second predetermined time interval to again operate the lock-out relay to said first predetermined position to reclose the breaker.

-i'or automatically opening the breaker, means for 'the opening oi the breaker, a lock-out relay operable to a piuralityot positions, and a set-up re- 5 lay responsive to the opening oi the breaker for operating the lockout relay to a predetermined position to cause the closing means to eiiect a substantially instantaneous reclosure oi the breaker and to render said set-up relay unrel0 sponsive to the reopening ot the breaker, said timing relay being disposed. to operate the lockout relay to its initial position at the expiration oi a predetermined time interval and to operate the set-up relay at the expiration oi a second 15 predetermined time interval whereby the lockout relay is again operated to its said predetermined position to reclose the breaker, said timing relay being iurther operable to en'ect a predetermined number oradditional timed reclosures in 20 the eventthat the breaker continues to reopen.

l1. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system, in combination,- a circuit breaker, means for automatically opening' the breaker, a timing device. and control means including a control re- 25 lay and a set-up relay initially responsive to the tially instantaneous reclosure thereof and for 'initiating the operation of the timing device, said timing device beingv operable thereafter in co- 30 operation with the set-up relay to effect a predetermined number oi' operations of the control relay at predetermined time intervals whereby a. predetermined number of timed reclosures are effected in the event the breaker continues to re- 85 open.

12. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system. in combination, a circuit breaker, means for automatically opening the breaker, a timing relay operable through a predetermined sequence 40 and having a normally non-operating position. a control relay operable to close the breaker, a setup relay responsive to the opening of the breaker for eirecting the operation of the control relay to eect a substantially instantaneous reclosure 45 of the breaker and for initiating the operation of the timing relay, means responsive to the closure of the breaker for rendering the control relay unresponsive to the set-up relay in the event that the breaker reopens immediately to close the 50 breaker, said timing relay being operable to thereafter render the controlrelay responsive to the set-up relay for a predetermined number of times at predetermined intervals `to eilect a predeter mined number of timed reclosures of the breaker 55 in the event it continues to reopen.

13. In an automatic circuit .breaker system, in combination, a circuit breaker provided with closing means, means for opening the breaker automatically in response to predetermined conditions, 50 a control relay for controlling the energization of the closing means, av lock-out relay having a normal reset position and a lockout position and operable to the lockout position to eilect vthe` operation oi the controlrelay and a 05 set-up relay responsive to the opening of the breaker when the lockout relay is in the reset position for actuating the lockout relay to the lockout position, thereby to reclose the breaker substantially instantaneously. 70

14. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system, in combination, a circuit breaker, means for automatically opening the breaker in response to predetermined conditions. means including a lockout relay operable in response to the initial opening of the breaker to eifect a substantially instantaneous reclosure thereof, said lockout relay being operated from a reset position.

to a lockout position to render the means including the lockout relay unresponsive to an immediate opening of the breaker, and a timing relay responsive to the opening of the breaker for alternately operating the lockout relay to the reset position and rendering the means including the lock-out relay responsive to the open condition of the breaker for a predetermined number of times at predetermined intervals.

l5. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system, in combination, a circuit breaker, means for opening the breaker under predetermined conditions, closing means for the breaker, a timing relay having contact elements which are closed in a predetermined sequence, relay means responsive to the opening of the breaker and disposed to co-operate with the timing relay to reclose the breaker substantially instantaneously and to become unresponsive to an immediate reopening ofthe breaker, and means responsive to the opening of the breaker for initiating the operation of the timing relay, said timing relay being operable to render the relay means responsive to the open condition of the breaker for a predetermined number ot times at predetermined intervals.

16. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system, in combination, a circuit breaker, means for automatically opening the breaker, closing means for the breaker, a control relay for controlling the energization of the closing means, means responsive to the closure of the breaker for rendering the control relay ineffective to energize the closing means, a timing relay, a set-up relay responsive to opening operations of the breaker for energizing the control relay and to initiate the operation of the timing relay, said timing relay being disposed to thereafter render the control relay responsive to the set-up relay for a predetermined number of times at predetermined time intervals in the event that the breaker continues to reopen.

17. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system, in combination, a circuit breaker provided with closing means, means for automatically opening the breaker, a time-delay relay having a non-operating position operable to a plurality of control positions, control means responsive to the opening of the breaker for energizing the closing means substantially instantaneously and for initiating the time-delay relay into operation, said time-delay relay being disposed when in its nonoperating position to co-operate with the control means in recloslng the breaker in response to the initial opening thereof and to thereafter render the control means responsive to the open condition of the breaker at predetermined intervals, thereby to provide a substantially instantaneous ilrst reclosure followed by timed reclosures in the event the breaker continues to Open.

E. VERNON ELLETI. 

